Printing off my work
Every time I prepare to visit a bookfair, I have to think about printing off my work. A process which is surprisingly difficult, and relies on me to find the correct weight of paper so that I can print double-sided without the text showing through too intrusively on the reverse, folders that look new enough to be a pleasure to handle, vinyl pages that are clean, not pockmarked and scored, and text that is the best I can make it. And two clear hours during which I can ensure there are no interruptions whatsoever. When get pulled away by anything outside the task in hand, the complexity mounts.
I privately believe that, the day that printing off my work goes without a hitch – no typos, no stray, single pages or mis-numbered sections – will be the time when my book fair visit will be the most rewarding for me. A good, clean print run equates to a good book fair.
So I’m glad I’ve had a few years in this process of growing wiser, to discover what works best, because, travelling with only hand-luggage, every gram counts, and with the passage of time, I’m acutely aware that my gadding-about years are quietly drawing to a close. I’ve had a good innings – fifty-four next birthday and I’m still living pain free for much of the time, and able to go out in the evenings. I don’t take that freedom for granted any longer, and am merely curious to know how much longer I shall have it.
Meantime, I’m pleased to report that my last print-off (for Frankfurt 2018) was quick, relatively easy and fun. Maybe my next print off (for London 2019) will be even better – a breeze!
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November 21, 2018 @ 10:37 am
I am asking simply out of interest – when I used to submit ahem ‘novels’ (oh my word just the thought of those submissions makes me curl up with embarrassment) they were always single sided, admittedly they were typed on a manual machine – but, is it now acceptable to print double sided? If that is the case it is very useful information indeed. Thank you.
November 21, 2018 @ 11:29 am
Dearest Diane
I’m only printing off my work double-sided to save weight when I travel.
I put my printed sheets into folders which may, some day, be read. And as I’m hoping they will be read rather like a book, double-sided works in that particular instance. Other than that, printing single sided is still the way to submit paper proposals. Perhaps publishers might take a look at that, and allow us to save paper, but somehow, I doubt it.
Ooo-er! Yes, my early submissions were also embarrassing, but hey, how else would we learn what works better? The person who understands our writing will not be too bothered about niceties of presentation, I’m sure. They will be gripped with the enthusiasm that works to make things better.